Innsbruck, May 30, 1987
The Dual Birthday Celebration
On the occasion of the 750-Year Celebration of Berlin, many dignitaries have come to the divided city, to West and East Berlin, to convey their congratulations on the city’s birthday. Queen Elizabeth II opened the round of state visits in West Berlin, whereby she affirmed Great Britain’s readiness to secure the freedom of West Berlin. Led by Gorbachev, the heads of state of the Warsaw Pact convened in East Berlin. Yesterday, the Warsaw Pact nations offered further negotiations to NATO over disarmament in Central Europe. President Reagan promised to visit West Berlin in early June. He indicated he would like to use this opportunity to open discussions on the reunification of Germany. But all these pledges of loyalty cannot obscure the fact that the real goal of taking down the Wall is in no way getting closer. The dual birthday celebration brings to light the grotesque situation of the divided city. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to go ahead with a common celebration for the city as a whole.
[Transl: The origin of Berlin goes back to two villages on the Spree River, which were granted a township charter in 1237.]
Innsbruck, May 31, 1987
Henry Kissinger in Aachen
Henry Kissinger was awarded the “Karlspreis” (Charlemagne Prize) by the City of Aachen. At the awarding ceremony, he gave a noteworthy speech. Speaking in fluent German, he told Europeans to be vigilant, especially at the present time. For, on the one hand, the ongoing dialogue with the Soviet Union on dismantling intermediate-range missiles should be taken advantage of; but, on the other hand, Europe should be on guard against falling into a shallow neutralism that could soften up the Atlantic Alliance. He warned against the illusion of a nuclear free future. The disarmament talks can only bring about a reasonable reduction of the nuclear arsenals. America he said is the daughter of Europe. It is imperative to uphold our common heritage, above all the freedom of the individual. A peace program can only be justified if it is compatible with our values and security.
[The “Karlspreis” (Charlemagne Prize) of the City of Aachen has been awarded every year since 1950 for outstanding service to European integration. Recipients of the “Karlspreis” before Kissinger were, among others, Jean Monnet (1953), Konrad Adenauer (1954), Winston Churchill (1955), Paul Henri Spaak (1957), Robert Schuman (1958), and George C. Marshall (1959).]